Back To Winning Ways, Saints Snap Three Game Losing Streak With 7-4 Win Over Canaries

ST. PAUL, MNJune 29, 2016

Mark Hamburger is the ace of the St. Paul Saints pitching staff for a reason. An ace is the one you turn to when you need to stop a losing skid and Hamburger was up to the task on Tuesday afternoon at CHS Field. The Saints got a big game from Breland Almadova, who stole home, as they defeated the Sioux Falls Canaries in front of 8,408.

Hamburger didn’t allow a run in the first four innings, allowing just one runner as far as second. In the fifth Ryan Lashley led off with a single to left. Ethan Chapman hit a roller to first that Angelo Songco fielded, but Chapman ran into Songco, knocking the ball loose and reached base on the error. A wild pitch moved the runners up and Nolan Johnson singled home both men.

Hamburger would retire 9 of the next 11 hitters before starting the eighth. Jake Taylor led off by reaching on third baseman Nate Hanson’s error and David Bergin doubled him to third. Hamburger departed for Caleb Thielbar who got Ozney Guillen to ground out which scored the run from third. After a strikeout, Lashley singled off the glove of Thielbar to plate Bergin. Hamburger went 7.0+ innings allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits while striking out four and improved to 7-0.

For the first time in five games the Saints offense scored first as Alonzo Harris led off with a single. He swiped second and third and scored on a Tony Thomas sacrifice fly to give the Saints a 1-0 lead.

In the third Almadova led off with a solo homer to right, his fourth of the season, to make it 2-0. Back-to-back walks to Hanson and Songco put runners at first and second. Thomas made it 3-0 with an RBI single and Songco advanced to third on the play when the third baseman Lashley dropped the relay throw. Willie Argo made it 4-0 with an RBI when the shortstop Blake Schmit mishandled a grounder allowing Songco to score.

In the fourth Almadova led off with a triple. On a 1-1 pitch Almadova took off for home and slid in head first for a straight steal of home to make it 5-0. He finished the game 2-5 with a triple, home run, RBI, run and a stolen base.

With the Saints up 5-2 in the fifth, and one out, Tony Caldwell doubled and moved to third on a single by Maxx Garrett. An errant pickoff attempt scored Caldwell and sent Garrett to second. Sam Maus singled Garrett to third and Garrett scored on a sacrifice fly by Alonzo Harris to make it 7-2 Saints.

The same two teams meet in the finale of the three game series Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. at CHS Field. The Saints send RHP Robert Coe (4-1, 4.03) to the mound and the Canaries are TBA. It is Superhero Night as we celebrate Batman’s 50th Birthday. The game can be seen on the Saints Cable Network, cable access channels in the Twin Cities area, and heard on Club 1220 KLBB.